Assemblies of God lays off 47

The Springfield-based Assemblies of God National Leadership and Resource Center announced yesterday afternoon it is eliminating positions and instigating layoffs, resulting in 47 employees losing their jobs. The 1445 N. Boonville Ave. center, which serves as the organization's headquarters, employs 830.

Assemblies of God officials said the organization would be restructuring as it moves its publications from print to digital. The majority of the eliminated positions are in the Gospel Publishing House printing plant, said Juleen Turnage, Assemblies of God director of communications. She noted the organization wouldn't be entirely eliminated its printing, but it would be scaling back.

"The executive leadership team of the Assemblies of God is constantly looking for ways to be good stewards of the resources and opportunities God has given us," said Sol Arledge Jr., Assemblies of God chief operating officer, in a news release. "This includes a shift in business priorities and services to expand the reach of our resources through electronic means as society is moving away from 'tree books' to e-books."

George Wood, Assemblies of God general superintendent, said the staff shakeup was a tough, but necessary, decision.

"We have always valued and will continue to cherish the contributions of all our staff," Wood said in the release. "This was a necessary business decision affected by culture and technology of which we have been aware for months, and hoped would turn around."

The move is just shy of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' definition of a mass layoff, which involves more than 50 workers from a single employer.

The release said the affected employees are being offered severance packages, two months of extended insurance coverage, pastoral care and outplacement support.

"The Assemblies of God is committed to ensuring all employees affected by this restructuring are treated fairly and equitably throughout their transition," Arledge added.

Assemblies of God, first formed in 1914, has more than 64 million members worldwide. In the U.S., the organization has 12,595 churches, according to the release.